Kevin Martin (vocals) and Sean Hennesey (guitars) of Candlebox have joined up with Chad Taylor, Patrick Dahlheimer, and Chad Gracey of Live, in a new band called THE GRACIOUS FEW.

LIVE bassist Patrick Dahlheimer and drummer Chad Gracey were at a crossroads. Their 90’s alternative band had run its course, declaring a hiatus in July of 2009. Their guitarist, Chad Taylor, having sworn off writing music, was wrapped up in producing movies, while their singer was busy working on solo aspirations. “I told them that I had forgotten how to write music, which wasn’t far from the truth,” Taylor concedes. But Gracey was insistent. He recalled a time when they had turned their frustrations and unmet desires into a raw, powerful sound that ultimately helped them reach worldwide, multi-platinum success. “Making music was our dream and somehow we had lost our way,” Gracey said. “I knew if we were in a room without pressure, just for fun, we would find our spark. The trio gathered at Dahlheimer’s York, PA rehearsal space, lovingly called Spot.

With six demos in hand the trio began to assemble a wish list of singers to front the band. They knew they needed an explosive vocalist with a wide dynamic range to lend itself to the music. On the short list was longtime friend, Candlebox front man, Kevin Martin. “I knew Kevin from working with him as a drummer on a project I was producing. He had incredible timing and most important, he was a great guy to be around,” adds Taylor. After conferring with Gracey and Dahlheimer, Taylor made the call to a surprised Kevin Martin.

“You don’t audition a vocalist who has sold millions of albums,” continues Dahlheimer. “This was about faith. We had to really believe that Kevin was the right guy and thankfully, he was better than any of us could have imagined. His voice is perfectly suited for The Gracious Few.”

With Martin in place, the band began to write new material at Spot. When a musical interlude called for a guitar solo Taylor hesitated, “I’ve never had the passion to play solos, I think we should find someone who does.” Martin recommended Candlebox sideman, Sean Hennesy, as the perfect guy for the job. Within a day, Hennesy was on a plane to join Martin and his new band. It took them only a few minutes to realize that their sound was complete. “I was just happy to get the call, thankfully, I picked up!” beams Hennesy. “I’ve been working hard, earning my musical chops but I was always the sideman. With The Gracious Few, they wanted my participation on all levels.”

“We knew what type of album would get us excited. We were pissed off and sick and tired of the status quo. We wanted a return to music that wasn’t careful to please the masses. We had that with our previous bands. Our new songs like “Guilty Fever, The Rest Of You, Closer and The Few captured our passion, pent-up fury and even sheer rage at times,” Taylor reveals.

The collection of songs takes you on a musical journey from heavy guitar riffs to reggae influenced rock to more ethereal tracks and closes with the finale “Song,” a no holds barred anthem that captures the grand emotion of arena sing-a-longs as Martin bellows, “I take my place and I am song! I wanna sing, sing my song.”

Taylor and his band-mates feel they’re back in a big way. He’s happy with the inspired passion and new relationships that have merged in the band’s sound and he knows fans will feel the same. “There’s a real stamina to the album’s pace. It’s got rough edges that will cut you if you brush against them,” says Taylor. “It’s rock n roll, and we’re grateful to have the chance to showcase what we do best,” ends Martin.

The eponymous debut will be released Summer 2010 with a world tour to follow.
Click here for more information on the Gracious Few